Knockdown cabinets



Dec. 4, 1962 s. DERMAN KNOCKDOWN CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April8, 1960 INVENTOR. 5/1M DER/MN Dec. 4, 19624 s. DERMAN 3,066,995

KNOCKDOWN CABINETS IN V EN TOR. 5/7M DER/wmv HTTRNEY United StatesPatent Oilice aasasss Patented Dee. 4, 1962 3,066,995 KNCKDUWN CABINET@Sam Dorman, 150 Glenview Road, South Grange, NJ. nnen Apr. s, issn, ser.Ne. arnese 6 Claims. (Cl. SI2- 297) This invention relates to what aregenerally referred to as linockdown cabinets employing a unitarydoorframe construction having horizontally slidable and collapsible doormembers composed of iiexible material. More particularly, the inventiondeals with a cabinet structure, wherein side wall members of the cabinetare collapsible with respect to the doorframe structure to constitute aunitary knockdown part of the doorfrarne structure and, wherein, theremainder of the cabinet, aside from accessories is formed from heavysubstantially rigid top, bottom and back wall members.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. l is a front View diagrammatically illustrating a cabinet madeaccording to my invention.

iFIG. 2 is a side View of the structure as seen in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the front and rear cornerportions of a cabinet, with parts of the construction broken away and insection.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged broken section substantially on the line 4-4 ofFIG. l and illustrating the side wall part in at least partially foldedposition in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 5 is a broken section substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, withparts of the construction broken away.

FIG. 6 is a broken section substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. lillustrating upper, lower and substantially central portions of thecabinet front; and

iFIG. 7 is a broken section view on the line 7 7 of FIG. 3 illustratingthe hanger rod and its mounting in connection with the side wall member.

In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a doorrame unit i0, twosimilar side wall units lll, one of which is shown in side elevation inFIG. 2 of the drawing and, as each side wall unit is of identicalconstruction, the brief description of one will apply to both. In thisconnection, it will be understood that one is of lefthand constructionand the other is of righthand construction.

The cabinet, insofar as wall structures are concerned, also comprisestop and bottom wall members i2 of similar construction and a back wallmember 13. The member 13 simply comprises a heavy relatively rigid panelinteriitting with the other wall members of the cabinet, as laterdescribed; whereas, the similar top and bottom wall members comprise apanel lll, generally similar to the panel 13, but fixed to the rearedges of the panels 14 are grooved strips 15 having horizontal grooves16, in which the panels 14 are positively Iixed in any desired mannerand vertical grooves I7, in connection with which the panel I3 isdetachably coupled. This latter structure is clearly shown in FIG. 7 andalso illustrated, in part, in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

The doorframe unit comprises relatively wide side strips 18 joined bytop and bottom strips 19 and Ztl, shown clearly in FIG. l of thedrawing, and between these strips is formed a large door opening 21. Itwill appear, from a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 and others, that thefront face of the strips 19 and Ztl are in alinement with the forwardedges of the side strips 1S, thus 2 producing a neat and finishedappearance at the front of the cabinet.

Substantially triangular corner portions 22 are fixed between the loweredge of the strip 2li and the inner surfaces of the strips IS, asclearly noted in FIG. l of the drawing, to form, between the strips 1?and corner portions 22, what may be termed front leg members for thecabinet.

Arranged in the doorframe unit lil `are two generally similar iiexible,collapsible door members 23 and, as each door member is generally of thesame construction, the brief description of one member will apply toboth. These doors are formed from iieXible sheet material of any type orkind, having accordion or other type of folds 24 therein by bringing twoof the sheets together and securing them at upper and lower ends of thesheets by eyelets 25, in the apertures of which are arranged upper andlower supporting rods 26 mounted in the side strips IS, one of thesemountings being indicated at 27 in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

Considering FIG. 6 of the drawing, it will appear that the rods 26 arearranged above the lower edge of the strip I9 land below the upper edgeof the strip 2G, so as to be substantially concealed in viewing thecabinet from the front.

Inner or adjacent side edges of the flexible sheets of any suitablefabric forming the door members 23 are folded around vertical rails 28,as seen at 29 in FIG. 4 of the drawing, the free edge portions beingsecured to the rails Z3 by reinforcing strips Sil tacked or nailed tothe rails 2d, one of these attachments being indicated diagrammatically`in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The outer side edges of the sheets formingthe door members 23 have similar attachments to inner surfaces of theside strips 18, as diagrammatically illustrated at El in FIG. 4 of thedrawing.

Suitably secured to inner suraces of the rails 28, substantiallycentrally thereof, are magnets 32. for maintain ing the rails inabutting relationship to each other while, at the same time,facilitating movement of each of the door members through the medium offingerpiece knobs 33, note FIG. l, for actuating the door members. Atthis time, it is also pointed out that suitable means, not shown, willbe provided to limit movement of both Vdoor members into the closedposition, noted in FIG. l. However, it will appear, from a considerationof FIG. 4 of the drawing, that the straight inner portions 34 of thesheet forming the door member will check and limit eX- tension movementof each door member. As noted in FIG. 4, the portions 3d extend at rightangles to the folds 24 when the door members are in closed position inthe cabinet. The folds 24 form the relatively deep channels 35 betweenthe folds 24, as will clearly appear from a consideration of FIG. 4 ofthe drawing.

Considering FIG. 6 of the drawing, it will appear that the rails 28terminate short of the rods 26 and recessed in and secured to upper andlower end portions of the rails are hook-shaped rod engaging shoes 36which will provide a minimum frictional engagement with the rods insliding movement of the door members on the rods, the eyelets 25 alsopresenting a minimum of frictional engagement with said rods. In thisconnection and in considering FIG. 5 of the drawing, it will appear thatthe sheet material from which the door members 23 are formed ispreferably tensioned vertically to a slight eX- tent in order tomaintain reasonably straight vertical folds in the forward edges of thesheet, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. l of the drawing. Thistensioning is diagrammatically illustrated by engagement of the eyelets25 with the rods 26 at 37.

The top strip I9 of the doorframe unit l@ is grooved o on its innersurface, as indicated at 38 in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawing, to receivethe forward edge of the top Wall panel 14. The lower strip 2d issimilarly grooved, as seen at 39 in FIG. 5 of the drawing, to receivethe forward edge of the bottom wall panel I4. Above the groove 39 isanother groove dil, in which is permanently lixed a false bottom stripor closure element di arranged adjacent the lower end of the doormembers 23 in forming a substantial closure for the channel portions 35.

Each side wall unit comp-rises a front strip 42, a longer back strip d3,the lower extension of which forms a rear leg 44 for the cabinet and topand bottom strips and 46. Inner edges of all of these strips are groovedto receive the panel d'7 of the side wall, the assemblage of the stripswith the panel 47 being permanent, one of these latter `groove mountingsof the panel 47 being indicated in the strip 4Z at in FIG. 4 of thedrawing.

The top and bottom strips d5 and 4d are of common construction, with theone exception that the top strip 54 has fixed to the lower surfacethereof inside the panel 47 a triangular block 49 having an aperture, asat 5d, for support of a hanger rod 5l, as clearly noted in FIG. 7 of thedrawing. Otherwise, end portions of both of these strips d5, do havetongue and groove engagement with the strips 42, d3, as clearlyillustrated at 52 in FIG. 3 of the drawing. Also, considering thisfigure, it will appear that inner surfaces of the rear strips d?) arerecessed, as seen at 53, to remove side edge portions of the back panelI3 where the panel I3 extends beyond end limits of the strips f5.

In supporting the cabinet in its assembled relationship, screws 54 passthrough the strips d3 and into the strips I5 in maintenance of the wallparts in assembled relaD tionship to each other and, if desired, otherfastenings can be employed to secure the wall parts together. In thisconnection, it will appear that side edges of the top and bottom panelsld extend into grooves 55 on inner surfaces of the strips 45 and do, oneof these grooves being clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

In maintaining the side wall units if in permanent engagement with thedoor frame unit It?, hinges 56 are employed at abutting edges of thestrips 42 with the strips I8 and two or more of the hinges will bearranged along these abutting edges, depending entirely upon the heightof the cabinet. In a reasonably high cabinet, `at least three hingeswill be used at each side thereof. In FIG. 4, I have shown one of theside wall units Il in at least a partially folded position in dot-dashlines, so that, in packaging, storage and shipment of the knockdowncabinet, the side wall units Il will be disposed upon the inner surfaceof the doorframe unit and the panels forming the top and bottom and backwalls are fitted in this collapsed unit, together with the rod 5f.

In some cabinets of the type and kind under consideration, shelf membersare employed, as known in the art. However, the present structure dealswith a cabinet dispensing with the shelf and used primarily as a garmentsupport.

It will be understood that the mounting of the rods 26 in the sidestrips 18 and the structure of the door members 23 is such that, in thecompletely collapsed movement of the door members, the flexible materialor the portions 34 thereof will fold to positions substantially withinthe environment of the width of the side strips IS, thus setting up nointerference with clothing which may be stored in the cabinet. It willalso be understood that doorframe units of the type and kind underconsideration can be used in conjunction with cabinets having modifiedtypes and kinds of side, top and bottom and back wall structures.

For purposes of description, each door member may be said to comprise aplurality of collapsibly related vertically arranged portions. In someinstances, and particularly, with narrow cabinets, a single door can beutilized, instead of the double door arrangement, as shown forillustrative purposes in the present disclosure. Further, inconstructing the doors of certain plastic materials which are subject toextension between upper and lower mountings for the doors, the doors maybe said to be under tension, which aids in maintaining the contourdiagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. l and 4 of the drawing.

'Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In cabinets of the character described, a doorframe unit comprisingunited side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large dooropening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the topstrip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members ofexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds,means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means andthe folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securingmeans extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheetmaterial joining said folds extending at right angles to the folds inchecking extension of the door members, side edges of the door membersbeing fixed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe,adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to verticalrails, ends of which extend beyond adjacent edge surfaces of the top andbottom strips of the doorframe, means slidably securing ends of saidrails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open andclosed position, and means supporting said rails in abuttingrelationship to each other when the door members are in closed position.

2. In cabinets of the character described, a doorframe unit comprisingunited side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large dooropening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the topstrip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members offlexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds,means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means andthe folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securingmeans extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheetmaterial joining said folds extending at right angles to the folds inchecking extension of the door members, side edges of the door membersbeing iixed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe,adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to verticalrails, ends of which extend beyond adjacent edge surfaces of the top andbottom strips of the door frame, means slidably securing ends of saidrails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open andclosed position, means supporting said rails in abutting relationship toeach other when the door members are in closed position, and a closureelement mounted on and extending inwardly from the bottom strip of thedoorframe unit and arranged in close proximity to lower edge portions ofsaid door members.

3. In cabinets of the character described, a door frame unit comprisingunited side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large dooropening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the topstrip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members offlexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds,means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means andthe folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securingmeans extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheetmaterial joining said folds extending at right angles to the folds inchecking extension of the door members, side edges of the door membersbeing fixed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe,adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to verticalrails, ends of which extend beyond adjacent edge surfaces of the top andbottom strips of the doorframe, means slidably securing ends of saidrails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open andclosed position, means supporting said rails in abutting relationship toeach other when the door members are in closed position, and said secondnamed means comprising hook-shaped members xed to end portions of saidrails and operatively engaging said rods.

4. In cabinets of the character described, a doorframe unit comprisingunited side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large dooropening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the topstrip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members offlexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds,means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means andthe folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securingmeans extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheetmaterial joining said molds extending at right angles to the folds inchecking extension of the door members, side edges of the door membersbeing xed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe,adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to verticalrails, ends of Which extend beyond adjacent edge isurfaces of the topand bottom strips of the door frame, means slidably securing ends ofsaid rails on said rods for free movement of the door members into openand closed position, means supporting said rails in abuttingrelationship to each other when the door members are in closed position,said second named means comprising hook-shaped members xed to endportions of said rails and operatively engaging said rods, and a closureelement mounted on and extending inwardly from the bottom strip of thedoorframe unit and arranged in close proximity to lower edge portions ofsaid door members.

5. A cabinet of the character described comprising a doorframe unitlhaving a large door opening therein, said opening being bordered byside and top and bottom strips, door supporting rods mounted in saidside strips and spaced from and concealed by said top and bottom strips,a door member forming a closure for said opening, said door member beingfashioned from a folded sheet of flexible material forming a pluralityof vertically arranged rib-like members with intermediate recessedportions, said rib-like members being joined by substantially straightunfolded portions checking separation of said rib-like mem bers, eyeletssecured to upper and lower ends of said riblike members, said eyeletsextending the major portion of the width of said rib-like members insubstantially maintaining contour of said rib-like members when the dooris in closed position, the eyelets slidably engaging said rods inmovement of the door member into open and closed positions, meanssecuring one side of the sheet of said door member to one side of thedoorframe unit, the other side portion of said sheet being iixed to avertical rail7 and end portions of said rail having means slidablyengaging said rods.

6. A cabinet of the character described comprising a doorframe unithaving a large door opening therein, said opening being bordered by sideand top and bottom strips, door supporting rods mounted in said sidestrips and spaced from and concealed by said top and bottom strips, adoor member forming a closure for said opening, said door member beingfashioned from a folded sheet of exible material forming a plurality ofvertically arranged rib-like members with intermediate recessedportions, said rib-like members being joined by substantially straightunfolded portions checking separation of said rib-like members, eyeletssecured to upper and lower ends of said rib-like members, said eyeletsextending the major portion ofthe width of said rib-like members insubstantially maintaining contour of said rib-like members when the dooris in closed position, the eyelets slidably engaging said rods inmovement of the door member into open and closed positions, meanssecuring one side of the sheet of said door member to one side of thedoor frame unit, the other side portion of said sheet being fixed `to avertical rail, end portions of said rail having means slidably engagingsaid rods, and a false bottom strip secured to and extending the fulllength of the inner surface of the bottom strip of the door frame andarranged adjacent the lower end of said door member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,814Phares Sept. 12, 1871 242,355 Nicholas May 31, 1881 581,834 Stafford May4, 1897 1,188,974 Montgomery June 27, 1916 2,360,451 Stone Oct. 17, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS 639,816 France Mar. 17, 1928 843,445 France Mar. 27,1939 979,957 France Dec. 20, 1950

